Pittsburgh Pirates rookie outfielder Esmerlyn Valdez has been placed on the 10-day injured list after suffering a hamstring injury running to first base in Friday's game against the Chicago Cubs. While trying to run out a ground ball in the sixth inning of a 12-2 loss, Valdez grabbed the back of his left leg and limped off the field with assistance from training staff after shortstop Nico Hoerner threw him out.

Manager Don Kelly told reporters Saturday that he still wasn't sure of the severity of the injury but that it was bad enough to warrant the IL move. Outfielder Ronny Simon was recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis in a corresponding move.

Valdez is batting .232 with 17 homers and 47 RBIs in 72 games this season. The 22-year-old made his major league debut May 22 at Toronto. Simon has been called up twice previously by the Pirates since August and has gone 9-for-32 with two RBIs over 10 games.